By Eric Eisenberg
AsiaInt Southeast Asia Reivew
7/23/08
A lawyer representing soldiers accused of trying to overthrow the president has himself been arrested on similar charges. Even though the alleged plot comes at a time when President Gloria Arroyo’s popularity has plunged to new depths, there are few signs that Filipinos will be roused to join conspiring military officers.
Homobono Adaza was arrested on 2 July along with retired army colonels Oscarlito Mapalo, Cesar de la Pena, and Ernie Amboy and former police superintendent Rafael Cardeño. Police were examining an extortion case when the coup was discovered and they arrested the men while they were in the Ortigas Center in Pasig City. Cardeño has been wanted since 2001 for his role in the murder of Baron Cervantes, another suspected coupster. In addition to the charges of "proposal to commit coup d’état", extortion, and obstruction of justice, the men were also charged with harbouring a fugitive.
The key informant and witness was another lawyer, Raymond Fortun, who informed police that Adaza was going to attempt to extort up to US$10m from one of Fortun’s clients, Japanese investor Monotori Sakuma, in order to fund a coup. Adaza called Fortun a "pathological liar" and maintained that the charges against him are baseless. Adaza also said that it was Fortun who was planning the coup and had asked Adaza how much the operation would cost.
Following the arrest, senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., in defence of Adaza, said, "He may be a lawyer of rebels and disgruntled elements, but to my knowledge he is no rebel himself."
Adaza’s client list includes the officers from the 2003 "Magdalo" coup and officers involved in the 1987 and 1989 coups. Senator Antonio Trillanes, who was involved in the 2003 and 2007 attempts, and Samuel Ong, the former deputy chief of the National Bureau of Investigation and an Arroyo critic, are both on Adaza’s client roster. Adaza argued that his client list has incriminated him unfairly. He also accused President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s government of trying to prosecute anyone that stands up to her administration.
Adaza’s arrest is set against a backdrop of ongoing court proceedings against those he previously represented, most of whom are part of the Magdalo group of army officers that have been variously involved in coup attempts and alliances with left-wing rebels during Arroyo’s presidency. On 10 July eleven Magdalo officers involved in the Oakwood Mutiny five years ago were dismissed from service and jailed. Whether they will remain incarcerated is uncertain; in May Arroyo, under pressure from military leaders, pardoned nine officers involved in the same coup after they issued public apologies.
On 8 July it was announced that pre-trial investigations have begun into a failed coup attempt in November 2007, when Brigadier General Danilo Lim and 10 junior military officers, also members of the Magdalo group, attempted a takeover of the Peninsula Manila hotel.
Adaza’s client list includes the Magdalo officers from the 2003 coup and officers involved in the 1987 and 1989 coups. Senator Antonio Trillanes, who was involved in the 2003 and 2007 attempts, and Samuel Ong, the former deputy chief of the National Bureau of Investigation and an Arroyo critic, are both on Adaza’s client roster. Adaza argued that his client list has incriminated him unfairly. He also accused President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s government of trying to prosecute anyone that stands up to her administration.
The head of the armed forces, General Alexander Yano, was at pains to emphasise that the Adaza "plot" was not a "military concern", saying the conspirators may have had intent but they lacked any capability. This in fact sums up the majority of coup attempts during Arroyo’s presidency, a sign that the pool of rebellious officers has repeatedly failed to inspire civilian Filipinos. The discovery of this latest coup plot coincided with a poll by the Social Weather Station which showed that around 60% were dissatisfied with Arroyo, while only 22% were satisfied. But with Arroyo prohibited from running for another term, most Filipinos are waiting to elect a new leader rather than endorse a military president.
© Intelligence Research Ltd.